“Well, Miss Oddity,” cried a voice. “I might know you’d be off hiding somewhere playing with a mouse or a spider or something.”
Cassy was so happy that she did not resent this but replied, laughing: “Well, Miss Morning-Glory, you’ve scared my mouse away, you see.”
“Yes, I am sorry I did. I wish I had crept up softly to see you feed it. How tame it is, but ugh! I don’t believe I’d like a mouse crawling on me.” And Eleanor stepped in, looking very pretty in her white dress and broad-brimmed hat. “I came down with papa this morning,” she said. “Mamma and I came, and Rock and Uncle Heath. Mamma and papa have gone back, and I am going to stay all night, for I have to go to the dentist’s in the morning.”
“Are you going to stay here?”
“Yes, if your mother doesn’t mind.”
“Oh, I know she won’t, and I shall be so glad. Will Rock stay, too?”
“Yes. He is down town now and will be here after a while.”
“Have you heard the news?” asked Cassy.
“What? About the money? Yes, but isn’t it too bad that it isn’t more? Papa says that Uncle Heath did his best, but he was only one against many, and that it was the best that could be done.”
“It is much better than nothing,” said Cassy, repeating her mother’s words. “But I didn’t mean that news so much as the other about—but never mind now, let’s wait till Rock comes, and then I can tell you both. It’s the most of a s’prise you ever heard; it’s just wonderful.”